Spring catch



Feb. 7, 1939. c. J. HANNlNGSY 2,146,140

SPRING CATCH Original Filed Nov. 6, 1956 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SPRING CATCH Charles J. Hannings, Elgin, 111., assignor to 11- linois Watch Case Company, Elgin, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 6, 1936, Serial No. 109,521 Renewed August 10, 1937 6 Claims. (01. 220-55) This invention relates to a spring catch which may be advantageously employed with a small pocket case such as is designed for the reception of cosmetics, cigarettes, etc. In the description to follow, a vanity case will be referred to by way of example.

The catch of this invention is an improvement over existing devices in that it may be made of one piece of metal, be secured in operative position without the aid of any additional parts, he

' effective to releasably hold a lid or other swinging part, and be provided with an element which is rounded for comfortable actuation by the finger whereby to operate the latch, as desired.

A vanity case having such a catch is illustrated in perspective in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, the case cover being shown as open; a fragmentary detail in section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, is shown in Fig. 2; and in Fig. 3 I have illustrated in perspective, on an enlarged scale, the spring catch per se.

The case herein shown comprises a dished body A to one edge of which is hinged a cover B. Both the body and cover may be equipped with any desired fittings. As shown, there is fitted into the body a shallow receptacle C having an offset ledge 5 with a depending marginal flange 6 that lies to the inside of a marginal wall 1 which is formed on the body. The marginal flange and wall are interfitted or otherwise secured so that the receptacle is fixedly mounted in the body of the case.

A lid D is placed over the receptacle, being secured at one end by a spring-hinge connection 8, permitting its opposite end, which is free, to swing open, thereby exposing the interior of the receptacle. As shown, the lid is offset adjacent its margin to provide an edge 9 adapted to rest upon a seat which is formed on the offset ledge of the receptacle. If desired, a gasket l0 may be rested on the seat so as to form a seal which prevents escape of powder or other loose material from the receptacle when the lid is closed down tightly in place.

The construction thus far described is suggestive of one with which the present spring catch may be advantageously employed. The catch E, as best shown in Fig. 3, comprises a leaf of spring metal having a return bend at I5 so that its two 0 ends l6 and I! lie in adjacent but spaced relation,

each free to move toward or from the other. The spring in the region of each free end is provided with an upwardly extended, outwardly turned lip, the one upon the end I1 being designated as 3, and the other upon the end I6 being curved around in the form of a roll l9. Such a spring is adapted to be fitted within a slot 20 that is formed in the ledge of the receptacle adjacent the free edge of the lid. When fitted in place, the two upwardly extended, outwardly turned lips are protruded through the slot so as to lie upon the upper side of the ledge. The remainder of the spring is concealed, its return end being extended beyond the proximate end of the slot whereby the spring is prevented from moving upwardly through the slot. It is only by compressing the spring to the point where the two lips will clear opposite edges of the slot that the spring may be removed by a downward motion through the slot.

The position of the roll is such that it will partly overlie the free edge of the lid, requiring a retraction of the roll edge preliminary to movement of the lid from its closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, to an open position the commencement of which is indicated by dot and dash lines in the same figure. When the lid is caught beneath the roll edge, a very easy sweeping movement of the finger across the roll will release the lid for opening movement w ch follows in response to the tension of the spring which is associated with its hinge. The roll edge which o-iiers no sharp point to hurt the finger will permit a very careless easy motion to be employed for the operation of the catch. When the lid is to be returned to closed position the curvature of the roll is such that the spring will be forced back sufliciently to allow the lid to move to its closed position where it is maintained by the roll which engages therewith at a point well below its axis.

I claim:

1. In a case having a supporting ledge, the combination with a hinged lid which, in closed position, presents its free edge adjacent a slot in the supporting ledge, of a one-piece spring catch comprising a leaf bent upon itself and provided near its free ends with upwardly extended out-turned lips adapted for extension through the ledge slot to lie upon the upper face thereof when the remainder of the spring catch is disposed beneath the ledge, one of the lips being curved around toward the free edge of the lid to form a roll-catch adapted to releasably engage therewith.

2. In a case having a supporting ledge, the combination with a hinged lid which, in closed position, presents its free edge adjacent a slot in the supporting ledge, of a one-piece spring catch comprising a leaf bent upon itself and provided near one of its ends with an upwardly extended outwardly curved lip forming a combined actuating roll and lid catch adapted to releasably engage with a free edge of the lid, the spring being extended through the slot in the ledge and engaging therewith and with an opposing part of said ledge by its own spring action for mounting catch on the ledge. I

3. In a case having a supporting ledge, the combination with a hinged lid which, in closed position, presents its free edge adjacent a slot in the ledge of the case, of a spring catch comprising a spring leaf bent upon itself to present its ends in opposed relation, one of said leaf ends engaging the ledge to maintain the leaf under tension, and the other end of said leaf having a finger actuating member and lid catch extending through the ledge slot to lie upon the upper face of said ledge and engaging therewith under tension of said leaf to support the intermediate portion of said leaf adjacent the underside of said ledge.

i. In a case having a supporting ledge, the combination with a hinged lid which, in closed position, presents its free edge adjacent a slot in the supporting ledge, of a spring catch comprising a leaf bent upon itself to present its ends in opposed relation for engagement with said ledge to maintain and support said leaf under tension below said ledge, and one end of said catch extending through the slot in said ledge to engage the upper surface of said ledge in the path of a free edge of said lid and having its upper surface inclining toward; the with said leaf a roll-catch adapted to releasably engage with said lid.

free edge of the lid toform 5. In a case having a supporting ledge, the combination with a hinged lid which, in closed position, presents its free edge adjacent a slot in the supporting ledge of the case, of a spring catch comprising a spring leaf bent upon itself and provided adjacent its opposed end portions with out-turned ledge engaging lips, one of said lips having a lid catch extending through the ledge slot to lie upon the upper face of said ledge and support the bent portion of said leaf adjacent the under side of said ledge under the tension of said leaf, and said lid catch having its upper surface rounded toward the free edge of the lid to form a roll catch adapted to automatically engage therewith when the lid is moved to closed position upon the ledge.

6. In a pocket case having a supporting ledge, the combination with a hinged lid which, in closed position, presents its free edge adjacent a slot in the supporting ledge of the case, of a spring catch comprising a spring leaf bent upon itself and provided near one of its ends with an out-turned lip and a rounded head extending upwardly through the slot to overhang and supportingly embrace the ledge adjacent the slot therein and forming a combined actuating roll and lid catch adapted to releasably engage over a free edge of the lid, and said spring leaf extending beneath the ledge parallel to the under side thereof adjacent said slot and. having its oppositely disposed end engaging with said ledge under tension of the bent leaf to retain said parts in operative assembled relation.

CHARLES J. HANNINGS. 

